An Osaka Afternoon

Like all good mad dogs and Englishmen we ventured out in the midday sun yesterday to take the Birdy Speed into a swelteringly hot Osaka in order to pay a visit to the Hutte Cycle Shop.

Quick rest near the National Museum Of Art

Located in a quiet neighborhood in Fukushima ward, Hutte is the sister shop of the popular Ame-Mura 8to8 Hatoya store...

Hutte Cycle Store

Hutte is chock full of beautiful high end bikes and frames holding a range that includes Salsa, Surly, All City , Hunter, Cielo and Kobe's own Vivalo Manager Ken is friendly and knowledgable and speaks much better English than I do Japanese! The store also does some very nice custom builds many of which can be viewed on their blog.

On the way back through the city we came across an impromptu anti nuclear demo making it's noisy way through town...

Then we passed quite a few interesting examples of bicycle parking, this is one of them...

Bike parking, Osaka style!

Custom BD-1 (Birdy)

Spotted in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, yesterday. A very nice custom BD-1 folder, I'd hazard a guess that it originated at Loro Cycle Works.

Taikichi Irie Museum Of Photography

Irie Taikichi was a celebrated Japanese photographer who was committed to photographing Nara. 

The Nara city Museum Of Photography  is dedicated to his work. Today, on a beautifully sunny summer day, we took a ride to see the latest exhibition which focuses on Irie's early work from the 1940's up to the 1970's.

Located close to the Shin-Yakushi-Ji temple it's a wonderful museum, well worth seeking out should you find yourself in Nara.

Museum entrance

Perfect chance for a shot of the Birdy!

Through the quiet streets of Takabatake

Interesting statue outside a local cafe

Aki-chan enjoying her new Fuji Jazz!

Shin-Yakushi-Ji Temple

Custom Birdy Speed with carbon 20" wheels